Sheet-metal punching and forming machine.



0. J. GROEHN. SHEET METAL PUNGHING' AND FORMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 001'. so, 1912.

1,086,525. Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH 60.,WASH1NOTON. D. c.

0. J.. GROEHN. SHEET METAL PUNGHING AND FORMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 009:. so, .1912.

1,086,525. Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

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tlNTTED ETATES PATENT ()FFICE.

OTTO J. GROEI-IN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB T0 BRISCO'E MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

SHEET-IIIETAL PUNCHING AND FORMING MACHINE.

Application filed October 30, 1912.

T) all whom it may concern Be it known that I, O'rro J. GnonHN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet Metal Punching and Forming Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to machines for punching and forming sheet metal, being more particularly designed for use in the manufacture of radiator-fins.

It is the object of the invention to provide a construction which is adapted to successively sever the blanks from a continuous strip of sheet metal, and to punch and form the severed blanks in the same operation.

It is a further object to combine this mechanism with means for flanging and reinforcing the edge portion of the strip; and further to provide for varying the length of the blanks and the position of the punch 1n relation thereto.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a cross section through the stamping dies; Fig. 3 is a crosssection she-wing the cut-off mechanism; Fig. i1: is a longitudinal section; and Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views, showing different positions of adjustment. Fig. 7 illustrates a detail of construction.

A is a punching press of any suitable construction; B is a shearing-cutter at one side of said press; C is a reciprocatory feeder for advancing a sheet metal strip to the shearing-cutter and press; and D are flanglng and edge-reinforcing dies through which the sheet metal strip is drawn by said feeder in advance of the press.

In the manufacture of radiator-fins it is necessary to punch the blanks so as to form flanged apertures for receiving the radiator tubes, and the size of the fins is varied for different constructions of radiators. Furthermore it is necessary to vary the arrangement of the apertures in relation to the edges of the blank to correspond to different radiator constructions. To produce this va- Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Feb. 10,1914.

Serial No. 728,686.

riation my machine is provided, first with an ad uStable. feed mechanism, by Which a longer or shorter portion of the strip is fed between severing operations; second, I have provided means operating after the severing of the blank and before the punching there of, for shifting the severed blank in relation to the dies-the construction being as follows: E is a variable throw-crank, preferably arranged at the end of the crank-shaft 1 which actuates the plunger of the press. G is a rod universally, pivotally connected to the crank E at one end and at its opposite end to an arm H of a bell crank lever I, which is connected by a link J to the reciprocatory feeder U, the arrangement being such that the rotation of the crank E will impart a reciprocating motion to the feeder C, and the length of the stroke of the latter will be varied to correspond to each variation of the throw of the crank E.

The feeder C may be of any suitable construction, but, as shown, comprises a block or plate over which the strip passes, with gravity dogs C, which in the forward reciprocation clamp the strip, but release the same upon the return reciprocation. The severing-cutter B is preferably actuated by the plunger of the press, but is timed to operate in advance of the engagement of the punching dies. Furthermore, provision is made for the instantaneous return of the shearing blade after severing the strip to provide clearance for an auxiliary feeder, which positions the severed blank in relation to the dies.

The operating means for the shearing cutter comprises a dog or pusher K attached to the plunger 0f the press, having a finger K which engages with the cooperating shoulder K on the shear B, thereby depressing the latter to effect the severing of the strip.

L is a trip cam which engages the dog K after the severing operation and moves the same laterally to release the shoulder K whereupon a spring B instantaneously returns the shear B.

i The auxiliary feeder which positions the severed blank comprises a reciprocatory slide M having a finger M, which passes beneath the shear and engages the rear edge of the blank. To insure this engagement at spring-pressed follower N is arranged beneath the shear B to be depressed by the latter during the shearing operation, while upon the return of the shear blade the follower will lift the severed blank to aline its edge with the finger M.

O is a lever fulcrumed at O and connected by link 0 with the slide of the auxiliary feeder M. The opposite end of the lever O is provided with a hinged dog 0 for engaging a finger G on the feeder C, the arrangement being such that during the forward movement of said feeder C, the fin ger G will pass the hinged dog 0 without actuating the lever-but during the initial return movement of said feeder C the engagement of the finger C with the dog 0 will rock the lever O, imparting a quick forward movement to the slide M and causing the finger M to advance the severed blank. As soon as the finger C disengages from the dog 0 the lever O is returned by suitable means such as a counterweight P and flexible connection P. The finger M is adjustably connected by set screws M with the slide M, which permits of setting to advance the blank to a greater or lesser ex tent. The finger C is also adjustably connected to the feeder G for setting for clifferent lengths of feed of the strip.

The movement of the auxiliary feeder just described is necessarily very rapid, as it must accomplish its work in the interval between the severing of the strip and the engagement of the punching dies therewith. To prevent an overmovement of the blank through inertia it is frictionally retarded, preferably by engaging with yielding cheekplates Q and Q upon opposite sides of the bed member of the punching die. These cheek plates are pressed inward by springs Q and are also supported upon vertical springs Q which permit them to be depressed by the plunger. The purpose of this latter movement is to form a stripper for disengaging the blank from the lower die upon the forward movement of the plunger and to this end said lower die R is provided with chamfered edges R, and the cheek-plates Q Q are provided with angle projections Q Thus in the descent of the plunger the projections Q will be depressed, the springs Q7 permitting the cheek-plates to yield laterally until said projections pass beneath the edges of the blank. The pressure of the springs Q will then force the cheek plates inward so that upon the rising of the plunger and of the cheek plates under the tension of the springs Q3, the punched blank will be stripped from the lower die.

In the complete operation of the machine the sheet metal strip is fed preferably from a roller through the flanging and edge-reinforcing dies D. The details of construction of these dies form no part of the present invention, but is such as to turn a flange or bead upon the edge of the strip, and if del sired to reinforce this bead with a wire or fiat strip of more rigid metal. The movei ment of the strip through the dies is effected l by the drawing of the feeder C, and therefore the edging and punching mechanisms l are in cooperative relation. Before starting i the machine the proper length of feed is determined and the crank E set in accordance therewith. The finger C is also set by being adjusted longitudinally upon the feeder C so as to actuate the lever 0 upon the initial E return movement of the feeder. The finger M is set so that at the limit of the forward movement of the auxiliary feeder, said finger will advance the severed blank to the proper position. WVhen properly set, motion is imparted to the machine which will first advance the strip by the operation of the feeder C, then sever the strip by the cutter Band upon the release and return movement of said cutter the operation of the le ver 0 by the finger C will give a quick forward movement to the finger d, engaging it with the rear edge of the severed blank, and pushing the latter forward to the proper position. The punching dies will then en gage with the blank and upon the return movement of the plunger the cheek-plates Q and Q will operate as strippers for disengaging the punched blank from the lower die member, and clearing the path for the feeding of another section of the strip between the dies.

Vhat I claim as my invention is:

l. The combination with an intermittently-operating die, of means for feeding a continuous blank to said die, severing means for said blank operating in advance of the operation of the die, and means operating in the interval between the operation of the severing means and die for adjusting the severed blank in registration with the die.

.2. The combination with a periodically operating punching die, of means for feed ing a continuous blank beneath said die, severing means for said blank timed to operate in advance of the operation of said die, and auxiliary feeding means operating in the interval between the operations of said severing means and said die for adjusting the severed blank into predetermined registration with the die.

3. The combination with a periodically-- operating punching die, of blank-severing means located in advance of said die and timed to operate in advance of the operation of the die, means for feeding a continuous blank in registration with said die and severing means in advance of the operation of the latter, means for engaging the severed mseases blank in the interval between the operation of said severing means and said die for shifting said blank into registration with the die, and means for adjusting said shifting means.

4-. The combination with a reciprocatory punching die, of a severing blade operated by said die and timed to be in advance of the die, means for feeding variable lengths of a continuous blank across the path of said severing blade, and means operating in the interval between the operation of said severing blade and said die for variably shifting the severed blank in its registration with said die.

5. The combination with a reciprocatory punching die, of a severing blade in fixed relation with said die and timed to operate in advance thereof, means for feeding variable lengths of a continuous blank across the path of said severing blade and die, and variable auxiliary feeding means for engaging the severed blank and shifting the same in advance of the engagement of said die therewith.

G. The combination with a reciprocatory punching die, of a severing blade in fixed relation to said die and timed to operate in advance thereof, reciprocatory feeding means for advancing a continuous blank across the path of said severing blade and die, and auxiliary feeding means operating subsequent to the operation of said severing blade and in advance of the operation of said die for shifting the severed blank in its registration with the die.

7. The combination with a reciprocatory punching die, of a severing blade in fixed relation to said die and timed to operate in advance thereof, means for feeding a continuous blank across the path of said severing blade and die. means for instantaneously returning said severing blade upon the completion of its operation, and auxiliary feeding means operating across the path of said severing blade in the interval between the return of the same and the operation of said die for engaging with the severed blank and shifting the registration thereof.

8. The combination with a punching die, of a reciprocatory plunger for actuating said die, a severing blade located in advance of said die, an operating connection between said plunger and said severing blade for actuating the latter in advance of said die, a trip for disengaging said operating connection upon the completion of the severing operation, means for instantaneously returning the severing blade, means for feeding a continuous blank across the path of said severing blade and die in advance of the operation of the former, and auxiliary feeding means operating across the path of said severing blade subsequent to the return thereof and before the operation of said die, for shifting the registration of said severed blank.

9. The combination with a punching die, of a reciprocatory plunger for actuating said die, a severing blade, a connection between said plunger and said severing blade for actuating the latter to operate in advance of the die, a reciprocatory feeder for advancing a continuous blank across the path of said severing blade and die before the operation of the former, a trip for disengaging the operating connection from said severing blade upon the completion of the operation thereof, resilient means for returning said blade, a reciprocatory auxil iary feeder operating across the path of said blade subsequent to the return thereof, to shift the severed blank in its registration with said die, and an actuating connection for said auxiliary feeder operated by the return movement of the primary feeder.

10. The combination with a reciprocatory punching die, of a enacting severing blade timed to operate in advance of said die, a reciprocatory feeder for advancing a continuous blank across the path of said severing means and die, means for adjusting the throw of said feeder to vary the length fed, a reciprocatory auxiliary feeder for shifting the registration of the severed blank, operating upon the return movement of the main feeder and in the interval between the oper ation of said severing means and said die, and means for adjusting said auxiliary feeder to variably shift the blank.

11. The combination with a reciprocatory die, of a coacting severing blade timed to operate in advance of said die, means for feeding a continuous blank across the path of said severing means and die, a reciprocatory pusher for engaging the severed blank and shifting the same during the interval between the severing operation and the operation of said die, and friction engaging means for the blank durin said shifting operation for overcoming the inertia thereof.

12. The combination with a reciprocatory piiniching die, of a coacting severing blade timed to operate in advance of said die, means for feeding a continuous blank across the path of said severing blade and die, a 1 nick-acting pusher for engaging the severed blank before the operation of said die and shifting the registration thereof, and a yieldablo chcek-platc frictionally engaging the edge of said blank and over-coming the iner tia thereof from the shifting operation.

13. The combination with a reciprocatory punching die, of a quick-acting pusher for feeding a. blank in registration with said die, a yield-able resiliently-pressed cheekplate for engaging the edge of said blank during the operation of said pusher and depressed by said die to a position beneath said blank, and resilient means raisingsaid cheekplate to strip the blank from the die.

14. The combination with complementary stationary and reciprocatory punching dies, of a pusher for feeding a blank in registration with said dies, a cheek-plate normally positioned to frictionally engage the edge of the blank, said plate being resiliently yieldable laterally and vertically, and being adapted to be depressed by the movable die beneath the blank, and a lateral projection on said cheek-plate for engaging the blank upon the return of said movable die, operating as a stripper for disengaging the blank from said stationary die.

15. The combination with a reciprocatory die and coacting severing blade, timed to operatein advance of said die, of a reciprocatory feeder for advancing a continuous strip across the path of said severing blade and die, a reciprocatory auxiliary feeder for engaging the severed blank and shifting the registration thereof in advance of the operation of said die, a dog on the main feeder,

i l l and mechanism engaged by said dog on the return movement of said main feeder for imparting movement to said auxiliary feeder.

16, The combination with a reciprocatory die and coacting severing blade timed to operate in advance of said die, of a reciprocatory feeder for advancing a continuous strip across the path of said severing blade and die, an auxiliary feeder or pusher for engaging the severed blank and shifting the registration thereof in advance of the oper ation of said die, mechanism timed in relation to said die for operating the main feeder and adjustable for varying the stroke thereof, and mechanism for actuating said auxiliary feeder from the main feeder adjustable for timing and for varying the shifting of said blank.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OTTO J. GROEHN.

itnesses 1 JAMES P. BARRY, H. E. BOWMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

